While there isn't enough time to go into every standard feature and all the available options (it's all covered in detail at www.lexus.ca

The IS 350 can be had with heated and ventilated perforated leather seats, keeping the backside either warm or cool depending on preference. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

anyway), a few additional items that come to mind are the adaptive headlights (AFS), which point the outside set of lights toward the curve, lighting up the way ahead, heated and ventilated perforated leather seats, keeping the backside either warm or cool depending on preference, and purely for aesthetics, its set of aluminum foot pedals complete with rubber grips. There's more, a lot more in fact, including a full set of airbags for all outboard passengers, and top-tier ABS brakes that feature all the regular acronyms, including EBD (electronic brakeforce distribution) and BA (brake assist).

I mentioned the other acronyms, TRAC, VSC and VDIM before, and as appreciative as I am when such driver aids take over and realign a car that I've

While the IS features some pretty high-tech driver aids such as traction control, stability control and a system dubbed VDIM that combines all systems to intervene when it deems necessary, some drivers will be put off as these systems can't be fully turned off. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

managed to pus beyond my personal ability to recover, there are some drivers who would rather switch these features off. And this may be the IS 350's only real fault, being that only the traction control system can be defeated, albeit only until the car begins to slip and after a tiny bit of wheel spin reengages. Independent tests have shown less powerful cars, such as Audi's A4 3.2 quattro and BMW's 330i, will out-maneuver the IS 350 in the slalom when similar features are turned off, at least when piloted by a professional driver. So, if you're a pro, you might prefer a vehicle that allows more hands-on control; but you're probably not even if you think that you're particularly good (I fall into this camp), the difference being similar to any one of us weekend warriors taking on a professional athlete at their given game - not a pretty sight. Therefore, regular folks who might occasionally like to drive fast but still want to end up alive and kicking at their destination won't be able to find a better road companion.